Timely treatments for foot conditions related to diabetic neuropathy

Diabetes is one silent killer which affects different body organs slowly, till the patient condition turns irrecoverable. According to data released by the National Diabetes Fact Sheet in the year 2011, a total of 25.8 million children and adults, i.e., 8.3% of the total United States population is affected with this scary disease. It indeed sounds quite intimidating! The worst thing is that diabetes brings along with it several unwanted health conditions like peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy. Patients get easily exposed to infections which can’t be cured easily.

What is diabetic neuropathy?

It is basically a kind of nerve disorder which is caused due to diabetes. With rising glucose level, nerves throughout the body fail to function properly. While nerve problems can affect any body organ but foot conditions are quite prevalent among aged diabetic patients. Again the risk level is higher for those suffering from diabetes since long. A study shows that approximately 60 to 70% of diabetic patients are suffering from some kind of neuropathy. 

Diabetic neuropathy is classified into four basic types, i.e., peripheral, autonomic, proximal and focal. While the peripheral neuropathy can be directly associated with feet, legs and toe problems, proximal neuropathy basically affects thighs, hips or buttock portion thus causing weakness in legs. Peripheral nerves of the body which connect brain and spinal cord to muscles, internal organs, glands and skin are impaired due to peripheral neuropathy, which is why this type of neuropathy is dreaded the most.

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy

Patients who have gone through this condition complain of numbness and loss of feeling, especially in feet and hands. Sometimes it may start as pin or needle pricking sensation which is followed by a burning feeling. You may feel as if your foot is on fire!  Even the slightest touch leads to screams of agony. Many patients complain of electric shock kind of sensation or as if they are walking on broken glass.  Does this sound agonizing? Yes, this is what patients have to say about severe foot conditions arising out of diabetic neuropathy. 

Loss of normal sensation of the foot makes patients susceptible to frequent cuts, blisters, scrapes or pressure sores. If not treated in time, minor injuries can turn into ulcers or conditions even more serious. 

How to overcome diabetic neuropathy

The best answer is to control diabetes i.e. blood sugar and blood pressure levels. By following proper diet and healthy lifestyle it is possible to keep your diabetes at check. Those who are prone to foot injuries should keep a close watch on their feet. If the pain is too much, then doctors may suggest painkillers, though these are not long term solutions.

Take a closer look at your footwear. Is it comfortable enough or enhancing feet irritation and pain? If so then shift to comfortable footwear or foot orthotic, designed for diabetic foot care. If foot conditions prevail then it is always advisable to get in touch with an expert podiatrist. Leave it up to the expert to decide what will be the best treatment for your diabetic feet.

Did you know that foot burning may be due to diabetic neuropathy?

Burning feet!

When you hear the term burning feet, the image that jumps to mind is ‘feet on fire’. Well, you won’t be too far wrong. People who suffer from burning feet actually feel their foot getting warm and in severe cases, the feet feel as though they are burning up.

Burning feet is usually associated with neuropathy due to diabetes. There are a number of other reasons why people could suffer from burning feet. Some of them include Lyme disease, alcohol abuse, AIDS, thyroid problems, kidney disease, vitamin deficiencies, hypertension etc. One of the most common reasons for burning feet is neuropathy caused by diabetes.

Diabetic neuropathy induced burning feet

If diabetic neuropathy has been diagnozed as the primary cause of burning feet, the diabetes which is the cause of the burning feet has to be treated. When a person suffers from diabetes, he/she should be careful with their sugar levels and keep their diabetes under control. If not controlled, diabetes could leave to nerve damage or neuropathy. The many symptoms associated with neuropathy are numbness, pins and needles, burning sensation etc.

The first object of the doctor’s treatment will be to bring the diabetes under control to stop further nerve damage. Numbness and burning feet are just the first stages of nerve damage. If left untreated, it could lead to permanent nerve damage.

Reasons why diabetics are more prone to neuropathy

Though high sugar levels can be the cause of diabetic neuropathy, other factors can hasten it. These factors include substance abuse, kidney disease, vitamin deficiency, hypothyroidism etc. Any of these could increase the chances of a diabetic getting neuropathy. So, it is important for diabetics to not only take care of the sugar levels but also take holistic care of their bodies.

Symptomatic treatment of burning feet

There are quite a few over the counter oral medication and topical creams to help deal with burning feet. But if you are a diabetic and your burning feet is due to diabetic neuropathy, it would be better to seek the advice of a doctor before taking any medication. The doctor will be able to prescribe medication for your burning feet which will not interfere with your ongoing treatment of diabetes. These medications should help relieve the pain of burning feet.

Holistic treatment of burning feet

Burning feet are the symptoms of a more dangerous cause like diabetes. So to treat burning feet, the underlying cause which is diabetes should be treated. One of the first things a person should do if they suffer from burning feet, is to get themselves checked for diabetes. If diabetes is ruled out, other tests can be done to ascertain the underlying problem. If the cause is diabetes, then see a doctor to find out how high your sugar levels are and what kind of treatment is needed.

If your sugar levels are not very high, your doctor may put you on a diet regimen to control the diabetes. If your diabetes is more advanced you may have to start taking medication for it. Whether you have burning feet or not, if you are a diabetic, you should visit a podiatrist regularly because diabetics are prone to a number of foot problems. Diabetics can get numbness of the feet which means that if your feet get injured, you may not realize it. There are many products to help people with diabetic neuropathy protect their feet. 

By taking certain protective measures, you can safeguard your feet against the side effects of diabetic neuropathy.